Brain power

By Scott Gargan, correspondent

Published
6:30 pm EDT, Friday, September 4, 2009

The physical effects of what we eat and drink and how often we exercise have been studied ad infinitum by the American medical community, with these factors being linked to conditions such as obesity, high cholesterol and heart disease. But as physicians across Fairfield County noted, many contemporary studies are beginning to suggest that these lifestyle choices also have a profound impact on the well-being of our brains.

"We are in the infancy of looking at the effects of diet and exercise on brain health," said Louise Resor, director of neurology at Stamford Hospital, "But there are many studies that suggest brain health is dependent on traditional medical factors."

Indeed, Fairfield County residents seeking to improve and maintain cognitive function -- while warding off chronic disorders like dementia -- should eat right and hit the gym as often as possible, the physicians urged.

Resor recommended the Mediterranean diet, which can help "slow age-related cognitive decline" by encouraging good blood flow to the brain. Inspired by the traditional eating patterns of the countries of the Mediterranean Basin, the diet includes fruits, nuts, vegetables, cereals, olive oil and fish and leaves out red meat and greasy snacks. The diet is high in vitamins A, C and E and omega fatty acids, she added, and low in bad cholesterol and saturated fat.

Ben Stratford, a naturopathic physician practicing at Nutmeg Natural Health Clinic in Bridgeport, added that fruits like blueberries, blackberries and elderberries are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that strengthen vessel integrity in the eyes, kidneys and brain.

"So good things can get across and bad things can't," he said.

And while Stratford said there are some useful natural remedies, such as ginkgo, an herb that improves blood circulation in the brain, he advised residents to "consult a doctor before taking them."

When it comes to working out, the physicians agree: 30 to 40 minutes of exercise three, or even four days a week, is vital. Resor cited a study led by associate professor Scott A. Small at the Columbia University Medical Center demonstrating that mice who engaged in regular physical activity showed evidence of new brain cell creation and more blood flow to the brain.

"People who exercised showed similar results, as well as improved memory," she added.

While diet and exercise are crucial, Dan Wollman, director of the Center for Comprehensive Care in Shelton, added that mental stimulation -- education, hobbies and social interaction -- can go a long way to preserving brain health. Wollman added that along with a heart healthy diet and moderate exercise, such activities can "delay the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease."

"It's recommended that until we have cures or reverse effects (for cognitive disorders), we need to focus on how we can live with these diseases," said Wollman, who also sits on the board of directors of the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

But just as important, the physicians said, are behaviors people should strive to avoid: namely, smoking and stressing out. Both can cause high blood pleasure while the latter can lead to social and psychological problems.

"People say, I've been smoking all my life. What difference is it going to make?' " Resor said. "But the regression of arterial abnormalities can lead to better blood flow to the brain."

Even though many of the claims for better brain health have not been proven definitively, the physicians are confident that the scientific studies are leading toward an inevitable conclusion -- that physical health is inextricably linked to mental health.